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Baltimore Beer Week

For local lovers of golden ales and robust porters, and the many varieties in between, Friday marks a reason to celebrate. It’s the start of Baltimore Beer Week, which is entering its ninth year.

Inspired by beer weeks in Philadelphia and New York, Heavy Seas Beer sales manager Joe Gold founded the Baltimore version in 2009 with the support of other craft-beer enthusiasts in the area. And as the city’s beer scene has expanded, so has Baltimore Beer Week. This year’s will feature events aiming to engage and educate area beer drinkers, running Friday through Oct. 22.

Before you raise a glass, though, you’ll need a game plan, and we’re here to help. These are the Baltimore Beer Week events we have circled on our calendar, split into categories for convenience. For more information on the events, go to baltimorebeerweek.com. (Events are free unless otherwise noted.)

Beer premieres

Each year, Baltimore Beer Week provides an excuse for local breweries to debut new products, and the ninth installment is no exception.

On Friday, Waverly Brewing and the new Checkerspot Brewing will release Caped Bates, a kettle sour brewed with cape gooseberries in honor of John Bates, owner of the corner bar Baltimore Taphouse who died over the summer. The Taphouse (600 S. Potomac St., Canton) will have it first at 1:30 p.m., and the party moves to Waverly Brewing’s taproom (1625 Union Ave., Hampden) at 5:30 p.m.

At Peabody Heights Brewery (401 E. 30th St., Abell), Full Tilt Brewing will launch Galacticat, an India pale ale made with aromatic hops, on Friday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Can’t get enough IPAs? Try Evolution Brewing’s new Lot 410, a blend of its Lot 3 and Lot 6 brews. Its flavors should feel fall appropriate, as portions of the beer were aged in whiskey barrels and soaked with smoked peaches. The tapping party is 4 p.m.-11 p.m. Friday at the Nickel Taphouse (1604 Kelly Ave., Mount Washington).

For the homebrewer

More than 40 competitors will faceoff Friday at Chilibrew, a casual chili and homebrew competition entering its 11th year. Attendees will vote on their favorite chili con carne, vegetarian chili and home-brewed beverages, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to nonprofit organizations. The event begins at 7 p.m. Friday at the Zion Church of the City of Baltimore (400 E. Lexington St., downtown). Admission ($25 at eventbrite.com) gets you a commemorative glass and all-you-can-drink beer from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

For more homebrewing fun, there’s the eighth annual Homebrew Extravaganza from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 18 at Little Havana (1325 Key Highway, Inner Harbor), where attendees will vote for their favorite homebrews from nearly 40 options. Baltimore roots-rock quartet the Racket will perform, and a portion of the proceeds from the $10 entry ticket will be donated to the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter.
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